Negotiating OTD price with Dealer

[flynrider]

Yeah, I also had an XS650 twin for awhile too. The only thing that I didn't like about the twins was the vibration. At about 70K miles, my '80 Kaw was actually losing parts due to metal fatigue. On one 750 mile day, my wrist went completely numb and I couldn't hold the throttle open anymore

Once I took the plunge and got my first, butter smooth inline 4, I never looked back

[the Ferret]

Let's take this twin talk to another thread, so as not to hijack this one any further.

[mike neal_imp]

Let's take this twin talk to another thread, so as not to hijack this one any further.

AS many have already pointed out - you have put the dealer in a great position with a $500 deposit on a pre order 2014 bike that is not on the showroom floor. No incentive to negotiate. There will be virtually ZERO difference between the 2013 and 2014 model except for color.
I chose to buy the 2013 off the showroom floor. Did an internet search and made some phone calls and purchased mine from BOB's House of Honda in Jackson TN (fyi ...I live in Texas). Paid $10,100 out the door. Then took off the tank, front fender and side cover plates to have painted the electric Goldwing blue (2013 color). Also ordered the fairing from Japan and had it painted to match. Total cost of custom paint and three coats of gel coat $750 which puts me in at just under $11k with a custom color. Also added the Staintune pipe from Australia and had the headers ceramic coated with the black satin for a stealth look. Total package is awesome. Right now bike is still in Tennessee but will post pics in a couple of weeks when I pick it up.
Having bought a number of bikes over the years my rule of thumb is that if I have to pay full price it is MSP...out the door. There is always about $1500 in dealer profit at MSP but as with all things in this world HOW MUCH do you want it. It may be that in your area the dealer knows that if you do not pay his price another customer will.
Ride Safe
Mike Neal
Custom Four Banger from Texas

[SanPete_imp]

Looking forward to pictures of your bike.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk [url=http://'http://tapatalk.com/m?id=10']now Free

[mininsx_imp]

I'm glad I've got a good dealer. If I'm in the market for a bike he looks it up on the computer which shows the pricing (retail, invoice, etc) right in front of me. He's in Kentucky and I'm in Ohio, so he prices the bike $200.00 above his cost, with no set up fees and I pay him, and I go get a title and pay the taxes myself. I'd have to wait a week or so to get the title if they do it, so I do it myself. He makes money, I never pay retail and everyone's happy!

[the Ferret]

Mike Neal there will be virtually zero difference in 2013 or 2014 STANDARDs... EXCEPT for the 6 speed transmission from what I understand

There is a hell of a lot of difference between the 2013 STANDARDs and the 2014 DELUXE models in the U.S.

And an even bigger difference in the 2013 STANDARDS and the 2014 EXs in other parts of the world.

Just to clear things up

[Deanohh_imp]

I'm glad I've got a good dealer. If I'm in the market for a bike he looks it up on the computer which shows the pricing (retail, invoice, etc) right in front of me. He's in Kentucky and I'm in Ohio, so he prices the bike $200.00 above his cost, with no set up fees and I pay him, and I go get a title and pay the taxes myself. I'd have to wait a week or so to get the title if they do it, so I do it myself. He makes money, I never pay retail and everyone's happy!

makes you wonder what his cost REALLY is. $200 above cost wouldn't pay someone to uncrate it, put in the battery, and fill it with gas. After losing money on every sale what's he do....... make up for it in volume?

[mininsx_imp]

I'm glad I've got a good dealer. If I'm in the market for a bike he looks it up on the computer which shows the pricing (retail, invoice, etc) right in front of me. He's in Kentucky and I'm in Ohio, so he prices the bike $200.00 above his cost, with no set up fees and I pay him, and I go get a title and pay the taxes myself. I'd have to wait a week or so to get the title if they do it, so I do it myself. He makes money, I never pay retail and everyone's happy!

makes you wonder what his cost REALLY is. $200 above cost wouldn't pay someone to uncrate it, put in the battery, and fill it with gas. After losing money on every sale what's he do....... make up for it in volume?

makes you wonder what his cost REALLY is. $200 above cost wouldn't pay someone to uncrate it, put in the battery, and fill it with gas. After losing money on every sale what's he do....... make up for it in volume?
That's exactly what he does. He's like the Walmart of Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki dealers. For instance, the last new bike I bought there was a '09 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom Special Edition, retail price $8099.00. He sold it to me for $6884.00. A couple of years ago I went there and crossed the street to his warehouse and it was full of Runes. He was buying them from other dealers who couldn't move them and selling them for $14,000. If he'd had a blue one I would have bought one, but for some reason most of them were black. They never charge me retail for parts, either.

[Guth_imp]

mininsx, I believe you have indicated that you paid $8700 for your used CB1100. So by what your dealer is telling you, he actually gave someone $8500 for that bike?

[bubblerboy64_imp]

Yes, I've wandered as well about some of this dealer invoice stuff. I know there are hold backs and incentives which add to the car dealer profits. I would assume bikes the same.

The statement that selling bikes for a "real" profit of only $200 wouldn't cover the cost of assembly is correct.

Don't know the business. I am sure there are folks here that do but I don't believe anyone is selling motorcycles and routinely only making $200 a pop.

Walk into any dealership and count the number of bodies there drawing a paycheck and tell me that math works. Just doesn't compute.

I would think a dealer would have to make in the neighborhood of 20% on most all sales minimum?